Russian exports to Kazakhstan hit new luxury milestone

Kazakhstan’s $1 million appetite for Russian «black gold» / Photo: Shutterstock, photo editor: Adelina Mamedova

Kazakhstan became the largest importer of Russian black caviar, spending about $1 million on the delicacy, according to Russia’s state news agency RIA Novosti.

Citing the federal export center Agroexport, the report said Kazakhstan accounted for 27% of Russia’s sturgeon caviar exports in the first 11 months of last year. Belarus ranked second with a 15% share, followed by Armenia at 8%.

Overall, Russia exported about 700 tons of caviar worth roughly $20 million last year. Sturgeon caviar, commonly known as black caviar, made up more than $3.8 million of that total. Based on those figures, Kazakhstan’s purchases amounted to about $1 million.